Thread regarding AT&T layoffs

Ode To Ma Bell "

Many years I spent at Bell.

Lot's of stories I could tell.

Winter, Summer, Spring and Fall,

I've worked my tail off thru them all.

Then the break-up of Eighty Four.

No one seemed to care anymore.

Bell Atlantic's now the name.

But things just didn't seem the same.

CEO and his partners grabbed all the loot,

But about us workers... no one gave a hoot.

Oh wait...something new...Verizon's the name.

Stock's going down - the union we'll blame.

GTE and Verizon, what a nice mix.

Dump our employees. That's a good fix.

Once we cared about customers, one and all.

Now we push cell-phones in stalls at the mall.

Arnold " Skip " Trivigino

Repairman/ Maint. Splicer

1970-2003 Now playing golf...

Spoken like a true manager, or in a cubicle with little to no contact with the real work force of T, if not Spit out that kool-aid! if you truly feel this way how did you even find this site? There are good people and strong workers with morals and good work ethic who have spent dedicated decades here at T, and some with less years and the same positive attitude. When I hear complaints about the job itself more or less covers broken equipment not the proper equipment or proper training not having proper supplies to complete job. The biggest problem is when you add a toxic manager into the mix. There are managers who have threatened write-ups because a cone was blown over by the wind "It should be in the upright position!" There are managers that run out of the woods at a cell sites screaming "You did not secure your vehicle!" Constant threats of write-ups and termination will make people a bit bitter . The Thin Blue Line is real , it separates workers and management the same rules do not apply . Female manager several years ago arrested for DUI while driving AT&T issued vehicle off the clock, yes she still has a job. A female and male manager caught by more than one person having criminal Congress in the office while on the clock, yes they are both still employed by T. These are called coaching opportunities by the way, this only applies to management, lesser infractions made by employee below the blue line would have simply been terminated. When you have 1st and 2nd level managers that are simply the spawn of Geryon, and break more rules than anyone they have ever fired, not too hard to find people who dislike their job. No not all are bad, but if AT&T really wants to make a difference, quit the surpluses of your workers, and surplus some managers! Those who love T, would never leave, who are managers or as some managers say " you have not been properly managed" go back over your rainbow where dilutions and fantasy thrive!.

The company operations were designed for mediocrity, from top to bottom, not need to inflate someone value here, we are a bunch of expendable assets, until Tuesday we can get jobs in real career oriented companies. There is a reason many of us still here,reality check people!!@@

wow ... 5 whole years as a wire tech huh ??? ... your integrity was suffering huh ??? ... lol ... In other words ... you got surplussed !!!

No-one just leaves at&t unless they have to. You can make $40 an hour as a CST on straight time to do easy repair shiiit !!! Why would a tech leave to go start over, just because management are a bunch of numbskulls?

At&t has always done stupid shiiit the whole time I have been here with Ameritech, SBC and at&t ... never changes ... but I'll take their money and sever all ties with my lump sum before the implosion!

As a former wire tech (5+ years), leaving was the best thing. I simply couldn't nor wouldn't drink the koolaid or sugar coat bad customer service. My integrity remained intact and I am much happier. Of course, I'll now watch this corrupted company that connives and takes advantage of customers continually lose more and more. They say that the company is too big to fail. I disagree. Worked the trenches. Heard the customers complain and leave, vowing to never return. The lack of work appears to verify. It's starting to come to light how the dtv now app numbers are a facade and before long, investors will no longer trust. And, when the customers are gone...so is the company. Just my 2 cents.

you know what i cannot stand are managers that i have no respect for because they are not qualified to be managers and or leaders. they act like bullies , yell and scream at employees,and act like children. get me somebody that knows the job and is my leader and maybe then i will be happy to work for att.

I know who wrote this

After 19 years, It can be easy for this place to be something you identify as a part of you, and the idea of being laid off can feel like a big part of you is dying and 19yrs wasted.

At least that’s how I felt after 12 yrs of service. I discovered, ATT was a part of my life but it didn’t define my life like I once thought/believed.

I would disagree with the over 55 part. I have several friends from earlier layoffs in September 17’. All are in new roles with new companies and over 55.

They were in sales organizations and back in them now, but stress level is night and day. All say the same thing in terms of operations and sales reporting. AT&T is 5-10 years ahead of a lot of other guys. Like a high school graduate going back to middle school, they are viewed as valuable rockstars to their new organizations.

19 years with AT&T, good pension, friends, and 4 weeks vacation not retirement eligible (modified rule of 75 skips age 60 plus 15 service). New job is a start over, low seniority, no vacation, $1,000 per month health insurance while looking and friends from earlier layoff say no jobs for over 55 crowd. AT&T knew before employees about copper going away, yet hired less expensive replacements. Now a hostile work place for management and craft to motivate us to leave. Our commitment is longer than the guy who bought stock yesterday, yet the company supports shareholders.

Interesting post.

Can anyone answer their question tho?

IF (and only if) your one of the ones that think the company is such a terrible place to work, why do you fear a layoff?

You’re getting paid (severance) to not have to work here anymore. Sounds like a blessing if your work group/org is so bad.

What am I missing?

Shut up, hater.

There are all kinds of jobs at AT&T so, there is no uniform experience at AT&T. Call centers are radically different from network or data centers. A prem tech is going to have a different experience than a communication tech dedicated to a large business customer is going to have, not to mention the difference in pay. 😉

So, different people can have different experiences and both will be right. My sense is, the more technical the job is, the more enjoyable it is.

Do L3's and above now get a bonus on their A&D for making positive comments on this board ?

Don’t Worry be Happy!.....lol this guy must work in some isolated cubicle away from the real world of the evil T.... problem is the way they treat people is all our fault it’s our attitude..... what idiot this Kool Aid drinker is.....go wash Randy’s jet

I don’t hate my job. I love the people I work with. My coworkers are why I stay. I worked at many other companies before coming to T, so I can tell you this is still a great place to work in comparison to the horror stories I’ve had at other places.

That being said, I feel most folks on here are looking for info about what’s going on in other areas and maybe some rumor about their own org. I’ve been at T for over 5 years and have seen it change dramatically in that time. It is not the place it was when I started or even 2 years ago. It’s gone downhill quick. Most of the reasons for that have been our leadership (or lack of it). Poor decisions are made daily at senior levels that impacts my group heavily. As a result of those bad decisions, it impacts me personally and financially.

I just wish they would stop with the constant re-orgs and surpluses. I wish they would listen to the people at our level that are in the mud day in and day out. Fortunately they are bringing in folks from outside with some real experience. Problem with that is that they also want to shake up the culture here. It’s going to be a bumpy ride for a while. I just hope it comes out better.

I hope the OP is still so upbeat when his job goes to India or Eastern Europe. The only help wanted signs in NC are for WalMart, Publix, and MacDonalds

If you’re a person with average intellect you knew this change from a TDM Network to a IP Network using SDN software was going to drastically reduce the need for thousands of employees. If you’re over 50 with +20 years service you’re just hoping you can limp across the retirement line.

Once 5G is deployed in major markets across the US and proves to be as robust as many believe it will be the layoffs will only increase.

Maybe instead of buying content providers for $75B you buy content creators for a fraction of that. The Netflix, Amazon, and Apples of the industry understand this and that’s why they’re winning. You don’t increase the size of your fleet buying 2 sinking ships, buy the ship builders. That’s the complaint and that’s not whining! I enjoy my job and can disagree with the company’s direction which on top of technology changes is causing layoffs!

If you could kick the a-- of the person responsible for all you problems, you wouldn’t be able to sit down for a week.

Your not chained to your desk, you can quit/leave whenever you want. It’s going to be scary, it will make you feel uncomfortable, it will not be easy especially if your one of these 20+ year folks always talking about the “good ole days”.

Those days are gone. Realize that. The first step is the hardest, but life after ATT is SO MUCH BETTER!

Learn to adapt or make some changes in your life. Otherwise, this poster is right. This is as good as its every gonna get for you.

You don’t work for the T you have no clue what you’re talking about! Help wanted signs everywhere you look! give me a freaking break....at Walmart!....You’re damn right people are pissed even envested their life for this company it was a lot better when they started....now has his turned to crap!!💩💩

We used to be family and work as a team until Randall got the keys to the shop from his father in law Ed Whitaker, now its all about software running the company and management hating the workers, and the workers hating management and CWA, and management loving CWA.ATT has lost its soul and I dont see it turning around ever.Its a shame for everyone.

Help wanted signs everywhere?

What for, fast food? Or are you in India?

There is no contradiction between wanting your work life to be better and continuing to work at a company. Many people have invested decades in T and hesitate to disrupt their lives by starting at a different company.

This is not a black and white situation, life is not a buffet table where you can just pick a different desert today than you had yesterday.

Fact is many people think Randy and his cronies are destroying the company that their hard work has helped to build and they are pissed about that, rightfully so.

Well good for you a--hole

Go count your money Randy.

Always been that way at the "phone company". Whiners, complainers, in general just miserable people, trying to make everyone else miserable as well. And yet they have 20, 25, 30+ years service. If you hate your job so much, go find another one!

After 39+ years of ATT I was layed off. I had planned to retire in December. So I was prepared already.

The culture at AT&T is toxic. It didn't make any difference to management how bad it was getting. They flat out do not care. Not a very pleasant environment to work in. SO i have found employment where the grass is greener. I am now treated with dignity and respect. I could not be happier.

AT&T is not the same company that i started working for 39 years ago.

What a douche.

Lol, shut up!!@ moron, next..... go play bingo

I agree 100%. Great Post.